Rail-joint.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES D. JONES, OF ST. ALBANS, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

$PECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 702,562, dated June 17, 1902.

Application filed October 17, 1901 Serial No.79,016. (N0 model.)

improved form of rail-joint which-shall besimple of construction, durable in use, com-- paratively inexpensive of production, and by means of which the fish-plates and bolts commonly used for connecting the abutting ends of rails may be entirely dispensed with.

With this and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of one raiL,

Fig. 2 is asimilar'view ofits companion or abutting rail, and Fig. 3. is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the ends of the two rails when locked together.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 denote the abutting ends of two rails, each of which at its abutting end has its web 3' thickened or extendedlaterally to add'strength at that point and each of, which is provided with narrow base-flanges 4, having spike-slots 5, by means of which the rails are secured to the ties. The rail 1 is provided in its base with a longitudinal slot 6, opening at the end of the rail and terminating in a vertically-disposed socket '7. The rail -2 is provided with a shank 8 incross-section corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the slot 6 andprovided with an upwardly-projecting lug 9, corresponding in shape to and snugly fitting within the socket -7. V

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction, mode of operation,and advantages of my invention will be readilyunderstood without requiring a more extended explanation.

By reference to the drawings it will be apparent that the greater the weight upon the joint the more securely will the ends of the railsbe locked together. It will also be observed that by this construction the use of bolts. and fish-plates are entirely dispensed with, thus effecting a great saving in the equipment of a road.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction maybe made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

. The combination with two rails, the web portions thereof at the ends of said rails being thickened or enlarged, one end of one rail having projecting longitudinally therefrom near its base a shank formed'withan upwardly-projecting rectangular. lug, and the abutting endof the other rail being provided .with a longitudinal'slot which terminates in a vertically disposed socket, the walls of which are rectangular and closely fit said lug, substantially as set forth. a

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- IIBSSGS.-

CHARLES D. JONES. Witnesses:

JOSEPH B. HOLESTEINE, M. T. WEBB. 

